Oak Hill, WV (WOAY) – On Wednesday, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the second-degree murder conviction of Joshua Marcellus Phillips for the fatal shooting of a Charleston police officer.
On December 1st, 2020, Phillips shot and killed Officer Cassie Johnson.
In his June 2022 trial, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and simple possession of a controlled substance.
During the trial, Phillips claimed he killed in self-defense. The court sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for second-degree murder, plus a consecutive six months for drug possession.
Wednesday, the West Virginia Supreme Court rejected Phillips’s appeal. He stated there were issues in his trial, including the jury selection, the evidence ruling, and more.
